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MCSO finds 5 firearms in Anna Maria felon’s home

Firearms and ammunition were seized by Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies from the Anna Maria substation on Nov. 20 at an apartment in the 100 block of Pine Avenue.

CONLEY

Acting on a CrimeStoppers tip, Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies at the Anna Maria substation discovered five firearms and a large quantity of ammunition in an apartment in the 100 block of Pine Avenue in Anna Maria.

One occupant was arrested.

The MCSO report said deputies suspected Roberta Lea Conley, 54, who lives in the apartment, of possessing an assault rifle that belonged to her son, Robert Conley, 18, of the same address.

Deputies also learned Roberta Conley had been convicted of a felony DUI and was on probation for the offense.

The MCSO contacted probation officer Aaron Lages, who went to Conley’s residence for an inspection.

Inside the apartment, he said he saw a tactical 12-gauge shotgun and an AR-15 assault rifle in plain view and called MCSO Deputy Steve Ogline of the Anna Maria substation.

Ogline and other deputies arrived a short time later to search the apartment.

Deputies also found rifle cases containing another AR-15 assault rifle, an AK-47 and a 30/30 rifle.

According to the report, Robert Conley said he owned all the firearms. The younger Conley also provided deputies with more than 10 magazines for ammunition, a rifle converter that allows the AR-15s to shoot a .22 LR round and 321 rounds of various ammunition for the weapons found except the AK-47.

Deputies confiscated all the firearms and charged Roberta Conley with possession of firearms by a felon, in addition to violating terms of her probation.

Robert Conley, who has no criminal history, was cooperative, the report said. He was not found to have violated any criminal statutes.